Spark-advancing apparatus



May 5 1931- l y s. J. zlEMBlNsKl 1,803,4514

SPARK ADVANCING APPARATUS Filed Nov. 5. 1928 4r lzl/ll/llllllllllz '111, viali/1,11

prawny Patented May 5,l 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFlcE srnnisms JANVIER zrEMBINsKI, or BELLEVNE, FRANCE sPAnx-AnVANcING Arranafrns Application 'led November 5, 1928, Serial No. 317,356, and in France November 18, 1927;

The present invention relates to devices for advancing thfe'spark in internal combustion engines.

'One category of devicesfor automatically controlling advance of a spark makes use of the depression formed in the intake manifold of the motor when the latter is rotating. One ap aratus of this typev is described in V the U. patent to Nickerson No. 1,139,707

loflled May 1, 1913. 'Another apparatus, in-

cluding certain variants, was patented in the United States byA Thomas and bears the number 1,301,985.- Numerous' inventors have. devised structures operating on the same principle. As a general rule (see Fig. ll), a

tube 2 is connected, at one extremity, to the intake manifold 1 of the motor and, at its other extremity, to anexpansible chamber of same kind orto a capsule 3, the latter including a fixed end-Wall 4, a movable endwall 5, and a spring 6 tending to move walls '4 and5 apart against the contrary effect of the .depression transmitted through tube 2. The displacements of Wall 5 are transmitted to any convenient form of mechanical spark control assembly such as ring 7 connected to Wall 5 by a rod 20,-ring 8 forminga ballbearing assembly With ring 7 and meshing,- by means of an interior thread of rapid pitch 81, with a' correspondinglthread on shaft 9 driven by the motor,-and a driven shaft 10 driving the spark control device and having a longitudinal groove 82 `formed therein adapted toslidably engage with a properly J5 formed projecting element integral with the exterior surfaceof ring 8.

One flthe disadvantages of the prier de` vices similar to the one above described consisted in the vnecessity of adjusting each lspai'k-ailivancing unit manufactured in accordanc'e with the resistance oieredby the spark control mechanism to which it was attached, this resistance varying considerably" from unit to unit. Obviously such a procedure is costly and to be avoided-in large scale production. v

One of the objects of the present invention` is to eliminate the adjustment of each individual device manufactured. 'This is 'acing back 'and forth with relation to the lixed `rod 20 and consisti 1g of apair of valves 21,

complished, as will be shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings, by connecting an apparatus exerting an excessive' force, in so-called serv'o'i relation'to a similar smaller apparatus un' influenced by the resistance of the spark control mechanism.

Referring to Fig. 2 ofthe drawings, there is shown afirst expansible chamber or capsule 17 communicating via a flexible tube 27 with the intake manifold of the motor. Ele- .60 ment 17 may be designated as a directing capsule and is fitted with a spring 18 similar to spring 6 in Fig. 1. One extremity of the directing capsule, wall 19, is either connected to a fixed point on'the motor assembly, or 65 attached to anhand-operated rod controlled by the vehicle operator if the motor is provided with such a rod. The other extremity of the directing capsule, whose movements are similar to th'ose of wall 5 in Fig. 1, carries a directing or` control rod 20. But the latter, instead of acting directly on the mechanical spark-advancing assembly in the manner represented in Fig. 1, does so through the intermediary ofy a sevo'mechanism consisting of what will hereinafter be designated as an expansible motorcapsule 16, and an automatic distributing mechanism 28. Motor-capsule "16 is designed S0, that it exerts a force always surpassing that necessary for actuating the mechanicalspark control assembly. If desired, a spring'l may be positioned in capsule 16 to insure this lat- -ter eiiect. The motor-capsule includes a xed wall 16a and a wall 16b capable of mov- Wall, the movable wall carrying a hollow rod or tube 24 whose walls are integral 4with those of a variable pressure chamber 23 communicating at opposite extremities' with iexible'tube 27 and with the atmosphere via`an opening 23a. Communication between chamber y23, tube 27 and the atmosphere is con- .trolled by a valve assembly associated with 22slidably mounted on rod 20, a small airtight bellows 25 which functions -to force elements `21 and22 apart, and a pin 26 passing through valve 22 and traversingan opening of slightly greater diameter in rod 20. Tube 24 reacts on a ring 7 which communicates its displacements to a ring 8 through the intermediary of a ring 11 supported by an articulated lever and link system 12, 13, 14. Masses 14 are maintained, when the device is at rest, close to spark-control shaft 10 by springs 15 which are mountedon one side or the other of links 12, 13 according as it be desired to add the e'ect of the centrifugal force on masses 14 to, or to subtract the effect of the latter from, the action exerted by motor-capsule 16 via tube 24 on ring 7.

The hereinabove described assembly operates as follows:

A's long as the motor is at rest, there is no depression in the'intake manifold, capsules 16 and 17 are in the expanded position shown in Fig. 2 and rods 20 and 24 are atthe' extreme right i. e. the spark-advance is at a minimum. As soon as the motor is started and a depression is set up in tube 27 and directing-capsule 17, the latter contracts and moves directing-rod 20 towards the left. The

latter then reacts on the servo-assembly so that tube 24 follows exactly the displace- -ments of rod 20 in the following manner: When directing-capsule 17 contracts, rod 20 moves valve 22 out of its seat and the depression in tube 27 is communicated via variable pressure chamber 23 and tube 24 to niotor-capsule 16 which thereupon also contracts, moving tube 24 to the left and advancing the spark. But if tube 24 were to move too far to the left relatively to rodj20, the casing of assembly 23 would come back into contact with valve 22, communication between tube 27 and capsule 16 would be cut olf and movement of tube 24 will be arrested. If the depression in the intake manifold and in tube 27 increases, capsule 17 and rod 20 will move further to the left, tube 24 will follow this displacement by one of exactl Y the same magnitude in the manner alrea y indicated and the spark will advance further. When, now, ythe depression in the intake manifold decreases, directing capsule 17 will elongate, rod 20 will move to the right, and a shoulder 20 on the latter willl contact with valve` 21 so to move the latter out of contact with orifice 23B. Air will then enter chamber 23 and pass into capsule 16 via K tube 24, elongating said capsule so as to dising parallel displacement of rod 20 and tube 24 in the manner described.

While automatic advancing of the s ark may be effected by a servo assembly o the kind described subject only to variations of depression in the intake manifold, it may be advantageous or desirable to combine therewith any form of automatic spark-advancing device dependent on the speed of the motor. One suchcombination is shown in Fig. 2 and it will at once be seen that'while the position of ring 7 is a function of the depression in the intake manifold, the position of ring 8 relatively to ring 7 is a function of the inclining force exerted on levers 12 by centrifugal masses 14. The angular relation between shafts 9 and 10 then becomes dependent on the speed of the motor (since the latter drives shaft 9) and on the depression existing in the intake manifold.

That part of the servo-device operating under the action of changes in pressure in the intake manifold may be coupled with other types of automatic spark-advancing regulators, the latter acting to move the spark control shaft out of phase with themotor shaft in accordance'with changes in speed, for example, while the vformer acts, through the intermediary of an appropriate lever, on thesystem for adjusting the primary current of the ignition device to obtain an advance or retard. The servo-device may, for example, rotate the head of the ru tor portion of a spark system of the Delcoemy type operated by a battery, or it may rotate a cam-supporting ring of a magneto of the Robert Bosch type in such a combination.

It is perfectly"obvious that any other combination of controls may be employed the action of thel control system'chosen (and operating automaticall or by hand) being coinbined with control ependent on changes of pressure to subordinate the regulation of spark-advance to a plurality of factors or .forces functioning simultaneously. .f l

Elements 16 and 17 may be made in the form of a' bellows, a cylinder and piston, Bourdon tubes of the type used in barometers, or any other form of expansible or pressure sensitive device now in common use in barometers and manometers. n

What I claim is i l1. A spark advancin apparatus compris-V ing'in combination a uel intake conduit, a first expansible chamber, a variable pressure chamber, a tubel communicating at one extremity with said intake conduit and, at its other extremity, with said first expansible chamber and with. said variable pressure chamber, a valve actuableby changes in volunie of said first expansible chamber and positioned to control the point at which said tube Scommunicates with the variable pressure chamber, a second expansible chamber communicating with said variable pressure chama tube communicating, at one extremity with said intakeconduit and, at its other extremity, by independent passages, with said first expansible chamber and with-the variable pressure chamber,va valve rod 'connected to said first expansible chamber, a first valvel actuable by said valve rod and positioned to control the point at which said tube communicates with the variable pressure chamber, a second valve actuablev by said valve rod and positioned to control communication between the variable pressure chamr ber and the atmosphere, a second expansible chamber communicating with said variable pressure chamber, and means operative by the C, expansion and contraction of said second ex- -able part,'a controlling device sensitive to pansible chamber to advance and retard a spark. y

4. In an internal 'combustion or like engine provided with an induction pipe, the combination of an ignition device,.an igni ion advance'mechanism therefor, having a movchanges iii pressure in the induction pipe and including a movable directing element, and power-means operative to displace said movi' able part by amounts corresponding to any movement of said moiible directing element. 5. In an internalcoinbustion or like engine, kthe combination of an ignition device, 2*-, an ignition adv-ance mechanism therefor, a

ipower servo-apparatus sensitive to changes of pressure and mechanically connected to said mechanism for controlling the ignition time, and automatic distributing means senpipe of the engine for connecting said apparatus with said induction pipe or with the atmosphere.

6. In an internal combustion or like engine, the combination of an ignition device, an igj sitive to changes` of. pressure in the inductionI nition advance mechanism therefor, a power.

servo-apparatus sensitive to changes of pressure and mechanically connected to said mechanism for controlling the ignition time,

C9- a'valve device for connecting said apparatus with the induction pipe of the-engine or withA t e atmosphere, and automatic controlling eans sensitive to chang-es of pressure in said induction pipe and adapted to control said 65 valve device.

7. AIn 4an internal combustion or like engine, the combination of an ignition device, an

ignition advance mechanism therefor, a hollow and elastically expansible power servomember having a wall secured to a ixedpoint of the engine, a moving wall, a spring tending to move said walls apart, a rigid hollowpart opening withinV said member and secured to said movable wall, a hollow rigid casing tightly secured to said hollow part,.having its longitudinal axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of said hollow part and opening into said'hollow part, and adapted to be fiexibly connected with the induction pipe of the engine or with the atmosphere, a rod or the like connecting mechanically said hollow part to said ignition advance mechanism, and au toinatic. controlling and distributing, means sensitive to changes of pressure in the induction pipe of the engine'and movable parallel to the longitudinal axis of said hollow casing, for connecting said expansible power member with said induction pipe or with the/atmosphere.

/8. In an internal combustion or like engine, the combination of an ignition device, an ignition advance mechanism therefor, a. -.power servo-bellows having a wallsecured to a-fixed point of the engine, a movable wall,

a 4spring tending to. move said walls apart,.a r, rigid hollow rod opening. within said bel-' lows and secured to said movable |wall a hol- Y low rigid casing integral with said liollow part having its longitudinal axis parallehto longitudinal axis. of said hollow rod and opening into said rod, and adapted to be flexibly connectedwith the induction pipe of the c engine or with the atmosphere, a rod or like connecting mechanically said hollow rod to said ignition advance mechanism, and auto- -matic' controlling and distributing means sensitive to changes of pressure in the induction pipe of th'e engine and 'movable parallel to the longitudinal axis of said hollow casing, forconnecting said hollow casing and f- 'po'wer bellows with said induction pipe or I with the atmosphere.

9. In an internal combustion or like engine, the combination of an ignition device, an ignition advance mechanism therefor, a hollow and elasticalI/y expansible power servo member having a wall secured td a fixed point of the engine, a moving wall, a spring tending to move said walls aparct, a rigid hollow part opening within said member and secured to said movablel wall, a'hollow rigid casing tightly secured to said'hollow part, having its longitudinal axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of said hollow part and opening into said hollow part, and adapted 'to be Aiexibly connected with the induction pipe of the engine or with the atmosphere, a rod or the like connecting mechanically said hollow'pa'it to said ignition advance mechanism,

a double valve device movable parallel to the longitudinal axis of.l said hollow casing for connecti g said expansible `power member with theldinducticn pipe or with the atmosphere, and controlling means sensitive to changes of pressure in said induction pipe and adapted to automatically control said double valve device.

l0. In an internal combustion or like engine, the combination of an ignition device, an ignition advance mechanism therefor, a power servo-bellows having a wall secured to a fixed point ofthe engine, a movable wall a spring tending to move said walls, apart a rigid hollow rod opening within said bellows and secured to said movable wall, a hollow rigid casing integral with said hollow part having its longitudinal, axis parallelto longitudinal axis of said hollow rod and opening into said rod, and adapted to be flexibly connected with the induction pipe of the engine or with the atmosphere, a

rod or like connecting mechanically said hollow rod to said ignition advance mechanism,

a double valve device movable parallel to `the longitudinal axis of said hollowcasing for connecting said power bellows with the induction pipe of the engine or with the atmosphere, and controlling means sensitive to changes of pressure in said induction pipe Aand adapted to automatically control said double valve device. n

11.In an internal combustion `or like engine, the combination of an ignition device, an ignition advance mechanism therefor, a hollow and power servo-member sensitive to changes of pressure, mechanically connected to said ignition advance mechanism and com municatin-g with a hollow casing vhaving its longitudinalaxis parallel to the longitudinal, axis of said power member and adapted to be flexibly connected with the induction pipe of the engine` or with the atmosphere, a first valve adapted to control the communication between said casing and atmosphere, a second valve adapted 'to control the communication between said casing and said induction f rpipe, the inoperative ends of said valves beingsecured together by a tight and elastic device tending to move said ends apart, such f as a bellows or the like, said valves being slidably mounted within said casing on a con. trolling rod or the like, said first valve beiiig adapted to be moved by an enlarged part of said rod towards the inner part of said casing, said second valve being loosely securedl to `said rod by a pin or the like, and controlling means sensitive to changes of pressure in said induction pipe and adapted to move said controlling rod along the longitudinal axis of said casing according to said changes of pressure. l

yl2.-In a combination as claimed in claim 9, said controlling device comprises a hollow and elastically'expansible member having a wall fixed to the engine or to the well known ,bellows and tending to move said walls apart, a pipe connecting said bellows and said induction pipe of the engine.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification.

STANISLAS JANVIER ZIEMBINSKI. 

